How to Clean Vinyl Records

Question

I recently received an old-fashioned record player as a gift. How can I clean my records?-- Donna M. Dykes, Spickard, MO

Answer

Even records stored in jackets collect dust and grease from handling. To clean a record, carefully hold it by the edges and rinse both sides with a stream of cold tap water. Try to avoid wetting the label. Squirt a bit of mild liquid detergent (no bar soap) on your wet fingertips and rub around the record -- going with the grooves, not across them. Rinse well and let air-dry in a rack or wipe with a cloth designed for dusting records. Do not use a towel or lint-producing fabric -- and don't let your dry fingers touch the vinyl.

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